I took the liberty of copying Mr. Peterson’s column from the Feb’86 issue of the ATSU Home Computer Users, and correcting the impression that Wes Brzozowski was the author. The spelling was left as printed, but marked with (sic), as I do not want to assume too much.
I had written the article last September as sort of tongue in cheek, a “cute” idea. As I got into the column,( the one I wrote),I began to recall my own frustrations with early commercial software, and began to mud sling, take on many
THOUGHTS PART II CON’T_____________________
generalities, but tried to show WHY pirates steal software. All of the software I have dealt with is for the Timex-Sinclair line, and I have not yet expirienced any shrink wrap restrictions. I have no personal expirence with business software, although some of TS software is used by some in small businesses.
…Who is GUILTY of stealing software?
It isn’t the sellers of course…It isn’t the programmers for pete sake!…It isn’t the advertisers or the magazines that review the software!
It is the software BUYERS!!
NO body could copy illegally one piece of software that wasn’t bought by a buyer…Unless of course one shoplifted it.
So, now the culprit is IDed, is you, you….buyer, you!
All us low down sneakier than pirate low life couldn’t exist with out you money spending buyers.
So, now all the retailers and programmers gotta do is get a couple a 2 x 4s, and wait behind the counters and as soon as Mr. Buyer reaches for the wallet – WHAM -BAM – PAZOW! right across the back of the head. Boy that’ll stop the SOBs from copying ever again.!!
Whoa, there fella, that’s a little heavy, I mean who can afford a 2 X 4 every time a buyer walks into a computer store. And what about them mail-order coyotes? Have the mailman wack their fingers with a phone bill? There’s gotta be somepin’ a little less strenous on the back, like make the motha sign a legal document over his fingerprints binding over his first born even if he dares think about copying! Yeah, get his social security number, mother’s maiden name and her social security checks, and just to be safe…
Just how much time is all this gona take, Jack? If it takes a minute, it will take an hour, and then he’ll probably want ask a question on the use of the software fer Pete’s sake. Or if it’s guaranteed!!…there’s gotta be a faster, neater way, what would you do with all them first borns, anyway?
Well,…what if you just get every legit owner on a mailing list, and the publisher takes matters into his own hands, like mailing out updates, clarifing the documentation, offering new programs at wholesale prices, keeping in tough with each and every buyer. What if the buyer had a hot line to call? And what if this legit owner introduces a new user to buying the program, how about a finder’s fee?
Taking this a step further, what if retailers dealt with User groups, releasing new software to a UG, who pays $X per member and in turn reproduces the program and documentation and sells the program for $X+Y profit for the UG. The UG benefits, the dealer gets his money up front, and the programmer gets potential reviewers good and bad, which makes it harder or easier to sell the next UG. Ads and distribution costs are >LM=90,LL=64 reduced, and if interest is high, further ads and distribution costs are warranted. And users have immediate hand holding available to them.
I don’t have the answers to stopping piracy, but blaming everyone in sight doesn’t help solve the problem. Educated users, aware of their responsibilities will help. What I am pointing out, is that the very people you are jumping on are the very ones who buy! So much of everything is copied, on office and home copiers, TV VCRs, tape decks, floppy discs, in schools, in colleges, and in industries, that the line for what is right and wrong easily becomes blurred. The schools, industry and parents have the responsibility to teach what is right. The rightful owners have to stand up and say no to illegal copying. The current situation of illegal copying (who really knows how big?) will lead to uncopyable software cartridges or some other medium, and it will cost more, do less, and have no backup. I do know the situation is bad, but how bad is a guess on anyone’s part. Do your part, promote software that you like, and badmouth the bad stuff, but dont pass it around.
Computer Shopper has had several columns on Piracy, and several UGs have had discussions on piracy. The subject is out in the open, the results of piracy are real, fewer programs, more expensive, and more copy protection. I feel that passing around copies does get more exposure to the programs, but if the program is worth using, it is worth sending for the legal copy! If it isn’t any good, destroy the copy.